Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 June 2016
201. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to deal with the sharp decline in live cattle exports in 2016; the new markets that will be opened in 2016 for Irish farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13925/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraLive exports serve a vital purpose as a means of satisfying market demand for live animals and providing alternative market outlets for Irish cattle farmers. I have always attached major importance to the live cattle export trade, and my Department, along with Bord Bia, has been extremely proactive in both encouraging and facilitating shipments abroad and the cross-border live trade to Northern Ireland.
Last year saw high levels of exports of cattle to both Britain and Northern Ireland, largely driven by favourable currency rates which made cattle from this country more competitive in those markets. However, as a result of a closer Euro V Sterling exchange rate, exports to the UK this year are lower by approximately 50%. Exports to Italy are up by almost 20% and exports to Spain have grown by 11%.
Beyond this market, animal health restrictions and geopolitical instability have impeded previously large-scale exports to Belgium and North Africa respectively. The markets currently open to live cattle from Ireland include Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Serbia and Algeria, in addition to the other twenty-seven Member States of the European Union. The exploitation of market outlets, once opened is a commercial matter for the live export sector, and is affected by the usual variables, including the relative cost of beef on the domestic and international markets, currency exchange rates, transport costs and other factors. I will continue to ensure that irish meat and livestock producers have the option of exporting to as many global markets as possible. In this regard my Department has agreed health certificates for the export of live cattle to Egypt, Serbia and Algeria in 2016 and is currently investigating the possibilities of bilateral health certificates for the export of cattle to Kazakhstan, Montenegro, and Turkey as well as breeding cattle to Morocco. In this regard my Department recently hosted a veterinary inspection by the Turkish authorities and is awaiting a report from that exercise.
